What Are Brimonidine Eye Drops?

Brimonidine is a medication that can be used as a treatment for certain types of glaucoma, an eye condition affecting the optic nerve, or ocular hypertension, a condition involving high blood pressure in the eye. This medication is sometimes administered in the form of eye drops. Brimonidine eye drops increase the drainage of the aqueous humor, the fluid that fills the eye, and decreases the amount that is made. Glaucoma is commonly treated with this form of the medication, as hypertension may be treated with other drugs more effectively.

A solution of brimonidine eye drops usually contains 0.2 percent of the medication, combined with a sterile saline solution. It is applied one drop per dose to the affected eye every eight hours, and a clean index finger is pressed against the eye to keep the medication from running out through the tear duct. One type of preservative contained in the formula can become absorbed by contact lenses, so it should always be applied at least 15 minutes prior to putting contact lenses in.

Contamination of brimonidine eye drops can be harmful to the user, since it can lead to eye infection and a decreased efficacy of the medicine. Doctors recommend that individuals wash their hands before and after handling the bottle of eye drops for this reason. Particles or a change of color in the solution could be a sign of contamination, and a doctor should be consulted before continuing to use the medication in such an event.

Like any other medication, there are potential side effects of brimonidine eye drops. Blurred vision, red eyes, or the feeling that a foreign object is in the eye are some of the more common side effects. Headaches, nausea, and even muscle pain may occur as well, but should not be cause for alarm unless these effects persist for long periods of time. More severe side effects of this medication that can require the assistance of a doctor include allergic reactions, feeling faint, changes in breathing or heart rate, or a numbing of the extremities.

Certain other medications can interact with brimonidine eye drops. Individuals taking blood pressure medications like warfarin should talk to a doctor before using this drug, since brimonidine can have effects on blood pressure, as well. Beta-blocker drugs, which may be used for blood pressure or anxiety treatments, as well as antidepressants, are two other major classes of drugs that may cause harmful interactions. The doctor prescribing these eye drops should always be aware of all drugs a patient takes so as to make an informed choice as to whether this is an appropriate drug treatment.